Comments on: Holy Water Under the Bridge

By: Chris Donato

Chris Donato — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:07:19 +0000

Crickets after he said “infallible.” The literacy rate in America is astounds me. Colbert covered this wonderfully.

But of course this isn’t about gays and women—inclusivism; it’s about visible unity and the lack thereof in ‘christendom’, not least in the face of an increasingly ‘post-Christian’ West.

By: Halden

Halden — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:37:52 +0000

Yeah, I agree he didn’t really say anything helpful. Colbert was awesome though. “Why don’t you just join the Catholic church? Where there are no gay priests.”

By: John R

John R — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:29:46 +0000

Fr. Balmer does a very good job of smashing narrow anti-Christian stereotypes. Unfortunately, I’m not sure he said anything that could challenge the audience; it wasn’t clear in what tangible way Christianity is different from bourgeois agnosticism/deism.

By: myles

myles — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:17:00 +0000

watching this again just makes me more angry. i mean, sure, this is the Colbert show, but Balmer’s sheite is just slogany, trite, and bland, old-school liberalism. Hope you enjoy selling your books, Balmer.

By: myles

myles — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:09:13 +0000

I’m really getting tired of Balmer.

By: Kevin Davis

Kevin Davis — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:10:11 +0000

Well, Colbert was entertaining as always. But, Rev. Balmer’s statements against “defining negatively” is obviously not a fair criticism, nor very insightful, of Rome’s position on ordination and homosexuality, both of which have been presented — agree or disagree — within a positive comprehension of gender and bodies, sacrifice and love.

Alternatively, Rowan Williams etc. is not merely offering a “positive” and “inclusive” ethic; he/they are likewise situating these issues of ordination and homosexuality within a, e.g, “graced body” comprehension of the human person over-against R.C. natural law. Rev. Balmer manages to dumb-down and obscure both sides of the debate with cliche slogans. Of course, it was just a new bit on a comedy show.